Nobel Peace Prize for Maria Corina Machado Sparks Global Controversy:

The awarding of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan democracy activist María Corina Machado has triggered an international debate. While the Nobel Committee praised her as a symbol of democratic resistance against authoritarianism, critics are questioning her past political stances—especially her support for Israel and calls for foreign intervention in Venezuela. Machado, a central figure in Venezuela’s opposition movement, has long been a vocal critic of President Nicolás Maduro’s regime. Her courage and persistence in the face of oppression have earned her both admiration and controversy. The Nobel Committee described her as a "champion of peace," highlighting her role in unifying the opposition and standing firm in the fight for civil liberties, even as threats to her life forced her into hiding over the past year. Jorgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Nobel Committee, emphasized that Machado’s actions represent "the tools of democracy as tools of peace." He stated that by remaining in Venezuela despite risks, she inspired millions and showed the world what it means to defend freedom under tyranny. However, not everyone is celebrating. Critics have pointed to Machado's previous expressions of support for Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, especially in the context of the Gaza conflict. Social media posts from past years are being resurfaced, including one where she said, “The struggle of Venezuela is the struggle of Israel,” and another calling Israel a “genuine ally of freedom.” Critics argue that such statements align her with a government accused of committing atrocities in Gaza. Bjornar Moxnes, a Norwegian lawmaker, noted that Machado had signed a cooperation agreement with Israel’s Likud party in 2020. He argued that this affiliation undermines the Nobel’s purpose, given Likud’s role in the ongoing war in Gaza. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a prominent US-based civil rights group, strongly condemned the award. In a statement, CAIR called the decision “unconscionable” and said the Nobel Committee should have chosen someone who “bravely pursues justice for all people”—particularly those opposing what it called “the genocide in Gaza.” Adding to the controversy, Machado has also faced scrutiny for her appeals to foreign governments to intervene in Venezuela’s political crisis. In 2018, she publicly shared a letter sent to then-Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Argentine President Mauricio Macri, urging them to support efforts to remove Maduro from power. In the letter, she labeled the Venezuelan regime as criminal and linked to drug trafficking and terrorism. In a surprising twist, Machado dedicated her Nobel win to former U.S. President Donald Trump, who congratulated her and said he was “happy” for her. The White House, however, criticized the Nobel Committee’s decision, accusing it of prioritizing politics over peace. This came after its failed campaign to nominate Trump for the Peace Prize based on his foreign policy record. As reactions continue to pour in, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize has once again become a global flashpoint—this time raising difficult questions about what truly defines a “champion of peace.

NEWS